The controls allow disabled people with lower limb disabilities to control the plane with just their hands. Article from from November 2011 issue of LOOP available online! http://bit.ly/voQQhJ:

You can watch videos from the epic 5 day tour on the following page or just day 1 and 4 from the videos below: http://www.freedomintheair.org/category/film/

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Routing: CAEN – ANGERS – LA ROCHELLE – LIMOGES

visit: http://www.facebook.com/cranfieldflyingschool

This movie is from day 1 of 4: routing Manston, DCT DVR DCT ING DCT LA DCT ABB DCT Caen (France)

Route: Lands End – Plymouth – Exeter – BIA NDB – CPT DME – Cranfield.

day 1 Cranfield to Edinburgh | day 2 – sector 1 Edinburgh to Islay
day 2 – sector 2 Islay to Blackpool | Day 3 – Blackpool to Lands End

FITA is committed to opening horizons for people with disabilities so that they can fly higher socially, physically and professionally.

His five-day Freedom Flight Tour called at various airports in England, Wales and Scotland. Destinations on the tour included Blackpool, Carlisle, Islay, Edinburgh, Lands End before touching back down at Cranfield.

He spent up to four hours a day in the cockpit of his Cessna 172 plane, using Union Aviation hand controls. The tour is to promote the newly designed ‘freedom control‘ developed in partnership with Cranfield University school of Aerospace Engineering. The new ‘freedom control’ will enable people with lower limb disabilities more opportunities and greater inclusion in general aviation. The new ‘freedom control’  have been designed to give more choice in what aircraft can be flown across the Piper and Cessna range, such as the PA28, Cherokee, Archer to the C152, C172.

Gautam set up FITA in October 2007, one month after receiving his private pilot licence.

He said: “I thought maybe I should do something positive about supporting disabled people, help them learn new skills and push them to a new level of confidence.

“It’s trying to show what we can do regardless of disability.”

Although the Freedom Flight UK Tour, 2011, is not a fundraising event, Gautam wants to spread the word about the launch of the new ‘freedom control’  during the Paralypmic which will be held in the UK during 2012.

Many flying schools up and down the UK have shown great interest in the new controls and the units will be certified in 31 EU countries and in America.

Please visit our supporters:
cranfieldflyingschool.com
cranfield.ac.uk

Within Britain there are over 6 million full time carers, but the work of this forgotten army goes unpaid. Yasmin has been dedicated to gifting many lives with unconditional love and support. Looking after her stepdaughter who suffers from muscular dystrophy took up a lot of time and energy, but Yasmin’s support and commitment to care for those less fortunate did not stop there. In search for other children who have disabilities, with a vision to set up a centre which provides respite care. Yasmin launched Friends of Bright Eyes as a voluntary charity. With minimal funds it was very difficult to keep the charity operating. A wife, mother and full time carer, Yasmin never looked back, always went that extra mile to help and 14 years later the charity which Yasmin started at home, now accommodates for over 50 children a week.

The hugely popular Freedom Wings days are designed to give youngsters with disabilities what is very often their first experience of flight in a light aircraft. Just to see the expressions on the children’s faces is evidence enough of the enjoyment and satisfaction they get from this new experience and their pleasure also guarantees a happy day for the whole family. We try, when possible, to ensure that brothers and sisters and parents get the opportunity to fly together at these events when their involvement is instrumental in siblings also having this exciting opportunity, Freedom is definitely “key”.

Courtesy of ITV Anglia

Twenty youngsters from The Forces Children’s Trust (FCT) will had the chance of a lifetime to experience the freedom of flight, when they attend the “Freedom Wings” day.

From our recent Freedom Wings day with the Forces Children’s Trust on July 23rd 2011 from Cranfield Airport, EGTC.